Watch.



L. E. F. WACI'IIER.

WATCH.

APPLICATION FILED NOV-M1916.

Patentei Nov. 2?, 191.7.

3 SIIEETS-SHEEI I- L. E. F. WACHTER.

WATCH.

4 APPLICATION FILED NOV. 1, 1916- I l EQQF QQIQQ Patented Nov, 27, 191?,

L. E. F. WACHTER.

WATCH.

31. @ZLC APPL'CATION FILED ov. 11 1916.

a J 9 9 maria V I 3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

PatentedNov. 2?, 1917..

- N 11% %TATF% PATENT @FFltQE.

LOUIS E. F. WACHTER, OF NEW YORK, N .Y.

WATCH.

Application filed November 1, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS E. F.VVAG1-1TER, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of New York, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Watches, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, illustrative of particular embodiments of my invention.

This invention relates to watches and more particularly means whereby the ordi nary watch may be held in an upright or other predetermined position, and at the same time involving a construction which will not interfere with the ordinary uses and handling of the watch. Among the objects of my invention is the production of efficient means for this purpose, susceptible of economic manufacture, simple in construction, compact and readily adaptable.

My invention may be embodied in a variety of forms generally in two classes, namely, one involving a permanent change in or connection to the watch case center or back or other part, and the other class involving a construction readily attachable to watches with no material change, or with no change whatsoever.

While a watch is being carried its position is generally in a substantially vertical plane, and when not carried on the person it is usually laid flat, such change in position is to be avoided by the use of my invention with the object of keeping the watch at all times in a substantially near vertical plane, and keeping the same portion, as, for

. instance, the pendant side uniformly in the same position, with the result of more regularity in the working of the mechanism.

Among the various forms in which my invention may be embodied I have illustrated a number which will hereinafter be specifically described, and which in the accompanying drawings are:

Figure 1 is a side view of a watch with supporting device attached to the engaging ring in closed position.

Fig. 2 is the watch of Fig. 1 with device in open or propped position.

Fig. 3 the prop of the previous figures, detached from the case.

Fig. 4 shows a fragmentary view of Fig. 1 showing in part section the pendant with the'connections of the prop to the ring ends.

Fig. 5 shows a fragmentary view in part Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 2?, 1917.

Serial No. 128,815.

section of a pendant boat and ends of prop in slightly modified form of attachment.

Fig. 6 is a modified form with the prop conforming to the periphery of the case center.

Fig. 7 is a modified form with the prop partially encircling and conforming to the case center.

, Fig. 8 is a modified form similar to Fig. 1, with special means for securing the bottom of the prop to the case in closed position.

Fig. 9 is a side view of the watch with prop shown in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 includes two fragmentary views, namely, the lower end of the prop in perspective and the lower end of the case with cooperating connection for the prop end.

Fig. 11 is a prop similar to the form shown in Fig. 8, with a modified adjustable end to the prop.

Fig. 12 is an edge view of the prop in Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a side view of watch with a prop similar to that in Fig. 1, but reinforced for strength.

Fig. 14 is a side view of a watch with prop hinge attached to the post.

Fig. 15 is a side view of watch with readily attachable prop with adjustable connection to the hinge attached to the post.

Fig. 16 is a back view of a watch with a modified form of prop and brace hinged to the back case cover.

Fig. 17 is a side view of the watch in Fig. 16, showing the prop in open position.

Fig. 18 is a back view of watch with modified form of prop conforming to the shape of the watch and hinged to the back cover.

Fig. 19 is a back view of a watch with a modified form of prop clipped to the pendant, similar to Fig. 8, but with spring adjustment for length.

Fig. 20 is a side View of the modified form shown in Fig. 19.

Fig. 21 is a back view of a watch with a modified form of prop attached at its hinge to the case center.

Fig. 22 is a side view of the form shown in Fig. 21.

In the various views A is the watch case center, B the watch back cover, C is the front cover or bezel, D is the pendant post, E is the pendant boat, F is the pendant ring or how, Gr is the crown, is the shank of the bow ends.

In Figs. 1 to 5 and 8 to 13, a supplementary member H is attached in proximity to the pendant boat E, by ears such as J, permitting a limited hinged motion so that the member H may form a prop, as shown in Fig. 2, or may be closed against the back cover B, as shown in Fig. l, and afford no obstruction or interference in the normal use of the watch. The lower end of H is formed with a claw end, as in Fig. 3, while the body is slightly curved, whereby the prop may be snapped against the back and engage the lower side of the back cover as shown in Fig. 1, and thereby minimize the chance of accidental displacement, while a scallop L, in the end of the foot K of the prop H affords ready means for voluntary release of the prop H for setting in the stand position. The prop H may be varied in form, as, for instance, in Fig. 8, H the configuration may be extended to afford an ornate or decorative back and stand, while in Fig. 13, H is repoussd, buckled or reinforced to stiffen it, so it may better serve as a prop and more securely remain in closed position, or be advantageous for other reasons as may hereinafter appear. It may also be of open work, filigree or wire, as M in Fig. 19, or embodying suitable inherent spring to afford a tight hold when closed and a ready release. The design of the prop may be a letter or monogram.

The means of hinging the prop H by the ears J, may be as shown in Fig. l, by en gagement with the shank 7", of the ends of the bow F, and the crotch j of the hinged end in this form is so proportioned that it will engage the crown G when opened to a predetermined position, forming the limit ing stop for the prop. The hinged support, however, may be modified as in Fig. 5, by forming sockets J, in the end of the prop, which are sprung into the recess at the ends of the pendant boat E, and in turn present recesses or sockets for the reception of the ends of the bow F, so that the spring of the bow F holds the bow in position and aids to lock the prop ears J.

The lower end or foot end of the prop H may be modified as in Figs. 8, 9 and 10, by a supplementary hinged clip K, having a recess L adapted to engage a studL on the periphery of the watch case center A. This recess and stud may, however, be reversed as shown in Figs. 19 to 22. In Figs. 11 and 12 the lower end of the prop H is bifurcated with the members 7L7L pivoted to the body of the prop forming an adjustable extension for adaptation to the configuration of the. case or to best suit the requirements of the foot, and may also serve to securely lock the prop in closed position and readily release the same by a contraction of the two prop extremities h-h.

As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, a modified form of prop conforms to the periphery of the watch case center A, and as in Fig. 6 this prop N encircles the watch center being hinged at the pendant and having diametrically opposite a flattened section 71. to afford a laterally stable foot for the prop. In Fig. 7 the prop N is hinged by pivotal engagement by diametrically opposite sides of the watch case center, with any suitable stop cooperating with the prop or pivot to predetermine the open position, and having at the. bottom an engagement with a recess n in the lower extremity of the watch case center A engaged by the spring prop N.

In Figs. 14 and 15 the prop H is hinged to a member fixedly attached to the pendant, while in Figs. 19 and 20 the prop M is likewise attached, while M formed of wire or like construction has a degree of spring permitting its contraction to release the end m from engagement with the recess m in the lower end of the watch case center A. The prop there shown may be raised at M to permit more ready grasp for effecting release. In Fig. 15 the connection of the prop with the hinge is adjustable, as at P, so that the clip Q may be firmly secured to the pendant post and the relation of prop H to the hinge-point adjusted to satisfactorily fit the watch case in closed position, while such adjustment may also be arranged to hold the prop foot firmly in closed position or even to lock it to the bottom of the case, and readily afford release for use as a prop by any suitable device.

The hinged clip R in Figs. 19 and 20, is made to readily attach to the watch by means of removing the bow and clipping the ears in position, and this arrangement with the hinged prop M may be quickly set 105 to fit the watch case forengagement, any suitable mechanical means being used in the hinged connection to limit the open position. As shown in Figs. 21 and 22, eyes or lugs S are attached to the watch case center 110 and are engaged by the ends t of the props T, while a twist in the prop connection Will be made to suit the particular case to which it is applied, for the limitation of the open position.

In Figs. 16 and 17 the prop U is hinged to a point on the back cover B, and has a stop or arm a pivotedat u to the back cover and engaging slot U to limit the open position of the prop, while the opening U accom-' 120 modates the end hook on the arm a when in closed position.

In Figy18 the prop V conforms in part to the periphery of the back cover, or generally to its shape, having a flattened por- 125 tion V to afford a foot or steadying base when open, and having a snap o, suitably located, to detachably hold it in closed position, and a suitable stop to limit the open-. ing provided in any known manner in the 130 hinge, or otherwise. This form affords the opportunity for decoration of the back of the watch entirely aside from the regular permanent portion of the case, namely, the back cover B, and being of large size may be made very thin and in a form which may be described as a concealed, or not readily observable support, adding to the compactness and general advantage in some cases for commercial reasons.

In cases where the form of the foot of the prop might not amply afford stabilizing, or when the form of prop used lends itself more readily to a narrow prop end, I may broaden the lower portion of the watch case center as shown at W, in Fig. 21 to present an ample base,in any event the forms can provide at least three suitably disposed base points to afford a sufficiently stable stand for the purpose.

It will be readily seen that in particular I have produced a device simple, cheap and compact to radically change the general use of the accepted watch from a mere pocket piece to an instrument that can at any moment be utilized in place of a clock, but which also insures the watch movement being supported or maintained constantly in one position, thereby greatly insuring the time-keeping quality of the mechanism.

In accomplishing this the sizes of watches and dimensions of cases vary so that various modifications of my invention must of necessity vary, and I have therefore herewith fully described numerous modifications as exigencies of circumstances warrant. lVhile the modification of watches by the embodiment of my invention is radical, the particular forms may vary considerably and from expert knowledge it is therefore impossible to specify any particular form or modification as the preferred form, as the different forms will suit difierent cases. In this it must be considered also that the introduction of my invention on new cases or new watches will find a reflection in attempts to apply an equivalent to watches in use, and some of the forms herein shown and specifically described have that object.

\Vhile I do not limit myself to any of the forms herein particularly shown and described, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

.1. In combination with a watch, a prop therefor, means on said prop for permanent engagement with a pendant at its junction with the bow part of said watch, including a bearing whereby said prop may be hinged a predetermined extent with respect to said pendant bow.

2. In combination in a watch, a pendant boat and a bow, a hinged prop therefor attached to the pendant boat and held in position by the bow.

Signed at New York, this 31st day of October, 1916.

LOUIS E. F. l/VACHTER.

Witnesses:

I-IERMANN F CUN'rz, H. MUGI-IMORE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Gommissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

